ABA Offering Fall Workshop on 'Implicit Bias & Inclusion'

This fall, the American Booksellers Association will present a full-day education session, titled "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Addressing Stereotypes and Creating a Welcoming Environment," in advance of two of the fall regional bookseller trade shows, Bookselling This Week reported. The sessions will take place September 14, prior to the start of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Discovery Show in New Orleans; and October 11, prior to the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association Fall Discovery Show in Denver.

Ilsa Govan and Caprice Hollins

Designed for both owners/managers and frontline booksellers, the workshop will be led by Ilsa Marie Govan, M.A., and Caprice D. Hollins, Psy.D., of Cultures Connecting. Using video, interactive exercises and storytelling, they "will illustrate how implicit racial stereotypes can influence attitudes, behaviors and beliefs about others and create barriers to genuine relationships. The workshop also aims to help booksellers understand the factors that create a sense of welcoming in an independent bookstore, from the inventory to the diversity of staff members, as well as how implicit biases--whether about race, gender, age, or disability status--come into play in creating such an environment for staff and customers."

Registration for the workshops, which cost $75 per person, is scheduled to open in early August. Fall show registration is not required to attend the workshops. More details coming soon.

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